Contact the ADA coordinator for the court handling your case and describe the access barrier and the upcoming hearing. California courts accept accommodation requests through the court’s coordinator and may use Judicial Council form MC-410; local procedures can differ. (California Courts: Ask for a disability accommodation; form MC-410)
Rule 1.100 generally calls for a request at least five court days before the accommodation is needed, but the court may waive that timing requirement. The California Courts guidance says you may still submit a later request, though the court may have less time to arrange it. Describe the functional access need and the proceeding date so the coordinator can understand what barrier the request addresses. (California Rules of Court, rule 1.100; California Courts accommodation guidance)
Prepare the request
Have your case number, assigned courthouse, hearing date and time ready. Explain the access barrier and the change you are asking the court to arrange. Ask how you will receive the decision and confirm any approved arrangements before the hearing. These details help the coordinator assess the request; approval is not automatic.
Keep the request confidential
Accommodation requests and supporting information are confidential under rule 1.100. Use the court’s ADA coordinator or its stated accommodation process; do not place MC-410 or supporting details in an ordinary public filing in the criminal case. If the court has a local process, follow that route and confirm that the request reached the coordinator. (California Rules of Court, rule 1.100)
An accommodation request is not itself a change to the hearing date. Unless the court separately changes the date, continue to plan to appear. A request for an interpreter for spoken language uses a different process; see the firm’s arraignment information for general criminal-court context.
For help with an upcoming criminal proceeding, contact the Law Offices of David S. Chesley or call (800) 755-5174.